One indicator of dwelling size is the number of bedrooms. In 2000-01, half of all dwellings in Australia had three bedrooms, 25% had four or more bedrooms and 20% had two bedrooms (table 8.2). Of separate houses, 57% had three bedrooms, while two bedroom dwellings were more common in semi-detached houses and in flats, units and apartments (46% and 64% respectively).

Nearly one-fifth (18%) of three bedroom dwellings had only one person living in them, over a third (38%) had only two persons, a further 19% had three persons, and 18% had four persons (table 8.3). Of two bedroom dwellings, most had one or two persons living in them (48% and 38% respectively).

8.2 ALL HOUSEHOLDS, By dwelling structure and number of bedrooms - 2000-01

Separate
house

Semi-detached/
row or terrace house/townhouse

Flat/unit/
apartment

All
households(a)

’000

’000

’000

’000

One bedroom

51.2

61.7

208.1

339.6

2 bedrooms

606.2

334.5

525.7

1,493.5

3 bedrooms

3,262.7

294.9

78.7

3,642.4

4 or more bedrooms

1,791.7

32.4

n.p.

1,828.5

Total(b)

5,711.8

723.5

825.0

7,314.9

(a) Includes other dwelling structures.(b) Includes bedsits and dwellings with zero bedrooms.

Source: ABS data available on request, Survey of Income and Housing Costs, 2000-01.

8.3 ALL HOUSEHOLDS, By number of persons and number of bedrooms - 2000-01

One
person

Two
persons

Three
persons

Four
persons

Five
or more

Total

All
households

%

%

%

%

%

%

’000

One bedroom

79.4

18.7

**1.2

n.p.

-

100.0

339.6

2 bedrooms

47.7

38.2

8.9

4.1

*1.1

100.0

1,493.5

3 bedrooms

18.5

37.8

18.7

18.2

6.8

100.0

3,642.4

4 or more bedrooms

7.5

23.9

17.4

27.5

23.8

100.0

1,828.5

Total(a)

24.6

33.5

15.5

16.8

9.6

100.0

7,314.9

(a) Includes bedsits and dwellings with zero bedrooms.

Source: ABS data available on request, Survey of Income and Housing Costs, 2000-01.